At a glance
Lujiazui is the financial district of Pudong, sitting directly across the Huangpu River from the Bund. Where the Bund preserves Shanghai's colonial facade, Lujiazui is its mirror image: a forest of supertalls built on former farmland after the area was designated a financial zone in 1990 as the flagship of China's Pudong development drive.
The skyline
Three of China's tallest towers cluster within a few hundred meters of each other:
- Shanghai Tower (632 m) — the world's second-tallest building, with a twisting glass form and the highest observation deck.
- Shanghai World Financial Center (492 m) — the "bottle opener" tower with a glass-floored observation bridge.
- Jin Mao Tower (421 m) — the 1999 pioneer of the cluster, an art-deco pagoda in steel and glass.
Nearby stands the Oriental Pearl Tower (468 m), the 1994 TV tower that launched the Pudong skyline and remains its most recognizable silhouette.
Living here
Lujiazui is corporate, modern, and expensive — high-rise apartments with river or skyline views, serviced towers for expat executives, and a concentration of international banks, asset managers, and law firms. Shopping runs to the upscale: IFC Mall and Super Brand Mall anchor the retail. The East Bund riverside promenade offers the city's best running and sunset views back toward the historic Bund.
Getting around
Metro Line 2 cuts straight under the district (Lujiazui station), connecting to Hongqiao and Pudong airports. The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel and regular ferries cross to the west bank.
Who it suits
Finance and corporate professionals who want a short commute to HQ; executives on packages who value skyline views and serviced-living amenities over street-level charm. It's the most "international city" feeling in Shanghai — but it's not a neighborhood of lanes and cafes.